How to Live a Stress Free Life with Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep)

What is Yoga Nidra?

1. It is a state of conscious deep sleep. During the practice of yoga nidra, one appears to be asleep, but the consciousness is functioning at the deeper level of awareness. It is a sleep with deep awareness. It is state of mind in beyond wakefulness and dream. Normally when we sleep, we lose track of our self and cannot utilize the capacity of mind. Yoga nidra enables the person to be conscious in this state and nurture the seed of great will power, inspire the higher self, and enjoy the vitality of life.

Why do we need to practice Yoga Nidra?

2.

Recommended By Colombia

Mental stress is the penalty we are paying today for becoming successful. Some people are more prone to effects of stress, but no one is immune to it. Only the threshold varies. It has been seen that urban population have higher blood pressure levels. The higher standard of living, higher education, higher incomes and more skilled occupations are associated with higher level of stress. Executives, professionals and people working on jobs with deadlines are under stress most of the time. In a study of patients, job stresses accounted for greater risk of coronary diseases than other risk factors like diet, heredity, obesity, smoking or exercise.

Who need to practice Yoga Nidra?

3. The following is the list of people who will benefit immensely from Yoga Nidra. The list is only indicative, not exhaustive.

(a) Those, who think relaxation means collapsing in an easy chair with a cup of coffee, a drink or a cigarette.

(b) Who read a book or listen to music or watch television after hard day’s work to relax.

(c) Who habitually bite their nails.

(d) Who scratch their head without any cause.

(e) Who stroke their chin compulsively.

(f) - Who tap their feet without realizing.

(g) Who pace about restlessly in their room.

(h) Who talk compulsively at the cost of others.

(j) Those with constant irritability syndrome.

(k) Those who are suffering from illnesses like diabetes, hyper-tension, migraine, asthma, ulcers etc.

History of Yoga Nidra.

4. Yoga Nidra has been known for thousands of years by the sages and yogis. The Mandukya Upanishad has expounded four states of consciousness i.e. Waking, Dreaming, Deep Sleep and Turiya (fourth state). Yoga Nidra refers to the conscious awareness state beyond the deep sleep state referred to as Prajna in Mandukya Upanishad. The state of yoga nidra (conscious deep sleep), is beyond or subtler than the imagery & mental process of the waking, dreaming states and Tamas of deep Sleep state.

References.

5. Ancient Rishis used to travel throughout the day. After reaching a camping place, they used to quickly finish their daily practice of other rituals and practice one hour of the Yoga Nidra. This practise used to refresh them with new vitality and energy.

6. Martina Navratilova, Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paesand many other sportspersons have personal yoga instructor who taught them this divine art.

7. The “Institute of Aerospace Medicine”, a premier institution formedicalservices to “Indian Air Force”has been using it to increase resistance to stress and gravitational forces in fighter pilots, and to desensitize trainees having air sickness problems. I am a personal example of their successful training given to Fighter Pilots.